Ten year old cancer survivor pulls on her dancing shoes (From Leigh Journal)

Ten year old cancer survivor from Tyldesley dances to highlight Race for Life

1:13pm Tuesday 19th March 2013 in News

A TEN year-old cancer survivor is pulling on her dancing shoes to inspire women to enter Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life.

Tyldesley girl Aimee Gaynor, her 17-year-old sister Charlotte and their mum, Karen will join a team performing Race for Life’s ‘Cancer Slam’ on Friday at the Trafford Centre.

Race for Life, run in partnership with Tesco, is a series of events for women which raises millions of pounds annually to fund life-saving research.

Aimee became poorly in 2005 when she developed abscesses in her mouth. She began to lose weight and also developed bruises on her legs and started to limp.

Aimee became anaemic and had to undergo emergency blood transfusions at the Royal Bolton Hospital. At the age of two she was diagnosed with leukaemia which resulted in two years of gruelling chemotherapy treatment at the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital.

The Tyldesley St George’s Central Primary School pupil, who enjoys ballroom dancing and playing the piano, still needs annual check-ups, but is in remission from the disease.

Brave Aimee had to cope with losing the ability to walk and suffered secondary infections, including pneumonia.

Even when Aimee had completed her treatment, she faced an uphill battle after breaking her leg completely in two while playing in a ball pool. She spent a further four weeks in hospital, underwent more physiotherapy and had to learn to walk once again.

Mum Karen, aged 44, said: “We are so excited to be taking part in Race for Life’s Cancer Slam. Research saves lives like Aimee’s. Together we are stronger than cancer.”

Laura Taylor, Race for Life regional event manager, said: “We are very grateful to Aimee and her family for taking part in the Cancer Slam and helping to spread the word about Race for Life."

Cancer Research UK Race for Life events will be held at Haigh Hall on Sunday, May 12, at Pennington Flash on Sunday, June 9 and at Haydock Park Racecourse on Sunday, July 14. See raceforlife.org